Sound

English Pronunciation

Nasal Consonant:n sound /n/

Listen to the n sound

n sound illustration

How to pronounce the n sound

To create the n sound, the air is blocked from leaving the mouth by pressing the tip against the tooth ridge and the sides of the front of the tongue against the side teeth. The soft palate drops, allowing air to pass out through the nose. The sound is voiced, so the vocal cords vibrate while producing it.

Common n sound spellings

spelling

example

other pronunciations for spelling

n/nn

note bannertwin

none

kn

knowknockknee

none

gn[1]

gnome signcampaign

n sound+g sound

[1] gn spelling
When the gn spelling occurs at the beginning or end of a word it is usually pronounced as an n sound. In the middle of a word it is more likely to be pronounced as a g sound followed by an n sound (as in the words signal and ignore). Consult a dictionary for the correct pronunciation of individual words.